Jonmac,
Thanks! That is a great story, I appreciate your sharing it with us!
Jim Bauder
'58 TR3 (Sold and now just a memory!)
'68 TR250 (Almost ready for paint!)
Scottsdale, AZ
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-triumphs@autox.team.net
[mailto:owner-triumphs@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of John Macartney
Sent: Friday, February 18, 2005 7:59 AM
To: Triumph List
Subject: TR5 and 'Fire Extinguishers" - tenuous LBC
This is a perfectly true story, though I won't say that the punchline is
something "that could only happen in England" but it made me laugh. I hope
it does for you too.
Yesterday, I went into my nearby town (visited recently for morning coffee
with Tom Fanshawe, Ronnie Babbit and Fred Thomas). Reason for my mission was
that I'd heard a TR5PI lurked there that was awaiting urgent sale. A truly
beautiful car but way beyond my means and the current owner is anxious for
it to stay in the UK. He needs to sell it to pay his divorce lawyer. Anyway,
during my visit, I obviously met the owner and an old man who lives in the
town, who I know sufficiently well to say "Hi" whenever we meet.
Having taken the car for a drive (and later been dragged almost screaming
with delight from it) owner, old man and I adjourned to his little cottage
built in 1650 to examine the contents of a six pack. As we sat slurping and
chatting, I commented on the fact that the cottage roof which is now stone,
had weathered well over the last 40 or so years, bearing in mind it had once
been thatched, together with its four adjoining neighbours. As a child I
well recall going past them one day to see all four cottages without any
roof at all, as a result of a major roof fire.
The old man chuckled. "I was a volunteer in the fire brigade then and I was
here the day the roof caught alight. Two old spinster sisters lived here
then. Very polite they were, always anxious to please, always concerned for
the welfare of others and much loved by everyone. Well, by the time we
volunteers had arrived at the fire station from our various jobs around the
town and then got the fire tender up here, the roof of all the houses was
well ablaze. It was a stinking hot day as well and sweat was pouring off us
in our special clothing and boots. The two old women were standing outside
their front door, dodging the sparks and lumps of blazing reed falling to
the ground and the first one said, 'Oh, thank you so much for coming. I do
hope we're not being a nuisance?'
'You're no nuisance at all, love. That's what we're here for. To put out
fires,' I replied.
Then the other one stepped forward.
'But it's such a hot day and you all look so tired and wet with
perspiration. Would you like me to go indoors and make all of you a nice cup
of tea before you start?'
Kind of restores your faith in human nature, even if it did happen the
better part of fifty years ago - and thankfully there wasn't a TR5 in the
garage when it all caught fire!
Jonmac
|